Molded housing for fertilizer and seed spreader



April 6, 1965 H. S. MALBY ETAL vMOLDED HOUSING FOR FERTILIZER AND SEED SPREADER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 9, 1963 April 6, i965 H. s. MALBY ETAL 3,175,831

MOLDED HOUSING FOR FERTILI'ZER AND JSP'REDER Filed .May 9, E963 4 Sheets-.Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS How/mo s. MAL-By FRED M. @Ea/Nima April 6, 1965 H. s. MALBY ETAL MOLDED HOUSING FOR FERTILIZER AND SEED SPREADER Filed May 9, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L u., s Ov' Y www@ E EAM N mmfafm SR T kw M0 WM HF April 6, 1965 H. s. MALBY ETAL 3,175,881

MOLDED HOUSING FOR FERTILIZER AND SEED SPREADER Filed May 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS HUM/ARD S. MALBY BYF'E'D M. RECKNAGEL TTNEYS United States Patentttice 3,176,881 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,176,881 MOLDED HUSDIG FR FERTHMZER AND SEED SPREADER Howard S. Malhy, Westiieid, and Fred M. Reclmagel,

Claris, NJ., assignors to California Research Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 9, 1963, Ser.A No. 279,173 11 Claims. (Si. 222-177) This invention relates to apparatus for spreading granular materials on the earth, and particularly refers to a molded unitary housing of a plastic material, eg., polypropylene, `for a lightweight spreader which may be traversed manually over a small area of earth to spread particulate material lsuch as granular fertilizer, seeds or the like at a controlled and uniform rate of application.

Broadly speaking the invention is characterized by the provision of a unitary housing which is flexibly hinged to be secured around a pair of parallel, resilient faced rollers of different diameters, the larger driving the smaller by line contact therewith and having traction 4wheels for engaging the earth to rotate both rollers. The smaller roller cooperates with a portion of the housing to regulate the how of granular material to the nip of the con- .tacting resilient roller lfaces into which the granular particles are temporarily impressed and subsequently released from the larger roller and thence passed out through one or more ports in the housing, which is traversed by any suitable means over the area to be covered.

Among the objects of the invention are included:

(l) To provide an improved unitary molded housing means for a spreader for particulate or granular solid materials such as fertilizer or seeds.

(2) To provide an improved housing that may be economically fabricated by molding or `forming techniques from plastic materials such as polypropylene, so as to provide in one unit a hopper, a metering element, particle distributing roller support and axle housing.

(3) To provide a housing of inert noncorrosive materials that may be readily cleaned by simple liushing with water.

(4) To provide a simple means .for assembling and for fastening together a housing of this type.

(5) to provide a unitary molded blank Iof material that may be assembled around the internal mechanism of a spreader or the like and subsequently secured together by simple means, which may be readily removed for replacement of parts subject to wear or deterioration.

(6) To provide an improved apparatus involving a resilient faced roller into which granular material may be impressed by compression and subsequently released by controlled expansion.

These and other objects and advantages will be lfurther apparent from the following description of a pre- `ferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, which form apart of this specication.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of an assembled spreader unit utilizing the molded housing of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the spreader of FlGURE 1.

FlGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line l sections, viz., the lower hollow cylindrical section 11, an intermediate narrow section 12 and an upper diverging section 13, all interconnected and desirably formed of thin walls of molded plastic, eg. polypropylene. A pair of longitudinally aligned, resilient faced `rollers 14 and 15 enclosing hollow shafts 16 and 17, preferably with the latter rotatably joined at their abutting end faces by an axially positioned double headed rivet 1%, are enclosed snugly 'but rotatably by the opposed concave walls 19 and 2@ of section 11. The resilient faces of said rollers may -be of sponge rubber yor foamed plastic, Iwith a smooth but deformable outer surface.

Above lconcave walls 19 and 20 are relatively narrow opposed walls 21 and 22, the lirst substantially straight and the latter converging slightly inwardly toward the former at its upper edge to form a lip 23, 4for a purpose to be described in more detail below. Above opposed walls 21 and 22, the housing diverges outwardly at 24 and 25 to form a storage hopper or chamber for the granular or particulate material 26 to be handled. In this illustrative example, the walls 24 and 2S are curved, but may equally well 'be V-shaped or any other configuration that will both preserve the general yform of lip 23 and feed the particles 26 to the narrow Vthroat between the upper edges of walls 21 and 22.

The bottom of the hollow cylindrical section 11, where the opposed lower side walls 19 and Ztl join, is provided with an outer longitudinal shallow groove 27 whichrresults in a thin section of the unitary housing 10 that is flexible enough to form a hinge so that the side Walls may be spread apart temporarily as shown in FIG. 4.

Each end of each side wall of sections 11, 12 and 13 is integrally molded with one-half of a vertically split end wall at right angles thereto, reference numeral Z8 indicating that one connected to side walls 19, 21 and 24, and reference numeral 29 indicating that one connected to the side walls 2li, 22 and ZS, respectively. The mating faces 39 and 31 `of the end walls 28 and 29 yare desirably provided with reinforcing ilanges 32 and 33 and, additionally, are notched or recessed as shown in FIG. 4, and these will now be described.

Coaxial with the center of lower hollow cylindrical section 11 there are formed in end walls 2S and 29 complementary semicircular recesses 34 and 3S, to receive thc outer ends of roller shafts 16 and 17, which project out of the housing 19 and terminate in driving wheels 36 and 37, respectively, each having radial serrations or lugs Sil to facilitate turning the wheels and rollers when the housing traverses slippery surfaces such as wet grass. Y

Above recesses 34 and 35 are a pair of elongated notches 39 and dit to receive a solid shaft 41 for a pair of smaller upper rollers 42 and 43 to be independently rotatable and Vwhich may be designated metering rollers. Notches 39 and ttl permit shaft 41 and these rollers to be lowered and very tightly pressed against rollers, 14 and 15 so that their resilient surfaces are deformed and iiattened. Also, they may be raised to intermediate positions so as to meter materials through the spreader while lying lightly on rollers 14 and 15 but still in sullicient frictional contact to be rotated. The ,shaft may also be raised to its upper position where rollers 42 and 43 are free of rollers 14 and 1:'5 and are in contact with lip 23 so as to prevent the materials in storage hopper or chamber from being passed to the lower dispensing portion of the spreader.

Adjustment, as well as support for the outermost ends of shaft 41 and rollers 42 and 43, is provided by a vertical rod 44 at each end or" housing 1t). Rod 44, in this example, also serves to secure together the two halves of end wall members 2S and 29 by engagement with inwardly recurved lugs 45 and 46. The uppermost lug 45 is on a v particles out through the ports.

3 transverse rprojection from extends across the center line of the end walls. Similarly, the lower lug 46 is on a transverseprojection from halt Wall 29 extending in the opposite direction from lug de and across the centerline of the end walls. When rod- A Y is pushed downwardly to the position shown in FlGUl 2, it acts asa key or latch in cooperation with lugs 45 and 46 to secure the two half end walls 28 and 29 together. Furthermore, by the engagement of shaft 41m a journal i 49 in the lower end of the rod 44 the small rollers 42 and Y 43 are also supported on the rod 44. By the means just inclined segments 51Lso that particulate material will be Y discharged uniformly along the length of housing onto the surface over'which it is traversed. Particles 2.5 which have beenembedded in the resilient surface -oi rollers le and are .released at the outlet ports 59 as the comthe end of half wall 2S and second-named rollers are adjustable upwardly to close ofi the passage from said storage chamber formed by said intermediate .side Walls. Y

4. A molded spreader'according to claim l in which each half end wall is provided with an outwardly projecting lug overlapping the other half, and said securing means comprises a rod passing between said lugs.

pressed resilient face of the rollersrexpands to force the Referring again to FIGURE 4, the dotted circles designated A, VB and C designate, respectively, the large rollers 14, 15, shafts 16, 17 and small rollers 42, d3 in the position they will assume when the two halvesoibody ld are spread apart while these internal parts are being installed or removed. The dual shafts 16 and il? are separately rotatable bytheir respective driving wheels-36 Vand 37 due to the loose rivet 1S, so ythat when one is moving faster than thev other, as in turning corners, the wheels will not. Y tend toskid or slip, and the feed of particulate material will be in propertion to the distance traveled. It is also contemplated, however, that both rollers i4 and l5 and rollers 42rand 43 could be unitary and not made in' two independently rotatable parts. No handle or other .support means on the housingare shown for this purpose, as it is well within the skill of this art to provide such means and they formno part of this invention.

In conclusion, it will be appreciated that many changes could be made from the illustrative structure shown andV Y described herein without departing from the invention, and all such modiiications that come within the Vscope of the appended claims'are intended to be embraced thereby. We claim: v Y 'l ,1. A molded spreader for particulate or granular material, comprising a unitary pair of opposed lower concave side walls flexibly joined along their lower edges to form 5. A molded spreader according to Yclaim 4 in which said second-named rollers are provided with a single shaft extending outwardly from each end closure, the end of saidv shaft being journalled said rod outwardly of the end walls of said spreader. Y

6. A molded' spreader according to claim 5 in which said rod is Vslidable longitudinally of said end walls to ad- 'just the relative spacingbetween said second-named rollers and said connection between the lower edges of said upper sidewalls and the upper edges ofv said lower walls.

' 7. A unitary molded housingrjfor a particulate or granular material spreader or the like, comprising a pair of opposed lower concave side walls dexibly joined along their lower edges to form alongitudinal hinge, a pair of upper side wallsV Vdir/erging upwardly and connected along their lower edges to t'ne upper edges oi said lower walls by substantially ilat intermediate side walls, each end of each side wall being integralwith one side Vhalf of a vertically split endvwall, said split extending outwardly from the hinged juncture of said lower concave side walls, a pair of overlapping lugs on said end walls adapted to retain end wall securing meansto close'the split halves, and means forming a longitudinal aperture in one of said lowery concave jside walls.

a longitudinal hinge, a pair of upper side walls diverging f.

' outwardly to form a storage chamber for said. material,

said upper side walls being connected along their lower edges to the upper edges of said lower walls byV substantiallyat 'intermediate side walls, each Tend of each side Wall being integral-'with one side half of a 4vertically split end wall, means for securing together the halves of said end walls to form end closures for said spreader, a rst pair of resilient faced rollers enclosed by said lower con- Vv(ii) caveside walls, each roller having a shaft secured thereto 8. A housing according to claim VV7 in which said'lastnamed means comprises a series of longitudinally overlapping apertureseXtend-ing Ysubstantially throughout theV length of said lower side wall.

9. A unitary spreader for particulate or granular material comprisinga unitary pair of opposed lower concave side walls flexibly joined along their lower edges to form a longitudinal hinge, a pair of upper side walls diverging outwardly to form a storage chamber vjor said material, said upper sidewalls being connected along their lower edges to the upper edges of said lower walls-by substantially flat intermediate side walls, each end of each side wall being'integralwith one side halt of a vertically splitend wall, means for securing together the halves of said end wallsV to form end closures for said spreader, a resilient faced roller enclosed'lby said lower concave side walls, a shaft secured to said roller andv extending out of said spreader, a driving wheel on eachV end of said shaft, a secondresilient faced rolleradjustably positioned between said intermediate side walls and adapted to be rotated by said first-named roller to feed said material therebetween from said storage chamber, and means in one of said concave lower side walls forming an outlet for said material.

10. A spreader according to claim 9 in which said throat, and said second-named roller. is'movable upwardly v, to close said throat to prevent said material from enterv n ing it fromsaid storage chamber. Y 11. yA spreader according to cla1m 9 in which one of said intermediate side walls converges upwardly' to form and projecting out of one end wall and terminatingr in aj driving wheel, a second pair of resilient faced rollers between said intermediate side walls and in contact with one of them, and adapted to be rotated by said first rollers to feed particulate material therebetween vfrom said storage chamber, and means forming a longitudinal outlet in one.

' ably supporting said second-named rollers.

3. A molded-spreader accordingftoV claim Y1 in which said intermediate side walls converge upwardlyand'said `a throat between said storage chamber and said second resilientfaced roller, and said second resilient faced roller is movable upwardly to adjust the opening of said throat to meter the passageY of said/material from said storage chamber. y f

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STA-TES PATENTS 504,718 V9/93 Franke 222- 414 X 2,237,504 `4/41 Y nona srtl 222--313 Y f FoiusrGN,rari-:NrsAV VV828,034 12/57Y oreatBrirain.-

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

9. A UNITARY SPREADER FOR PARTICULATE OR GRANULAR MATERIAL COMPRISING A UNITARY PAIR OF OPPOSED LOWER CONCAVE SIDE WALLS FLEXIBLY JOINED ALONG THEIR LOWER EDGED TO FORM A LONGITUDINAL HINGE, A PAIR OF UPPER SIDE WALL DIVERGING OUTWARDLY TO FORM A STORAGE CHAMBER FOR SAID MATERIAL, SAID U PPER SIDE WALLS BEING CONNECTED ALONG THEIR LOWER EDGES TO THE UPPER DEGES OF SAID LOWER WALLS BY SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT INTERMEDIATE SIDE WALLS, EACH END OF EACH SIDE WALL BEING INTEGRAL WITH ONE SIDE HALF OF A VERTICALLY SPLIT END WALL MEANS FOR SECURING TOGETHER THE HALVES OF SAID END WALLS TO FORM END CLOSURES FOR SAID SPREADER, A RESILIENT FACED ROLLER ENCLOSED BY SAID LOWER CONCAVE SIDE WALLS, A SHAFT SECURED TO SAID ROLLER AND EXTENDING OUT OF SAID SPREADER, A DRIVING WHEEL ON EACH END OF SAID SHAFT, A SECOND RESILIENT FACED ROLLER ADJUSTABLY POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID INTERMEDIATE SIDE WALLS AND ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED BY SAID FIRST-NAMED ROLLER TO FEED SAID MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN 